State FY24 Budget Includes Rate Increases and Loan Redemption Program
July 13, 2023
Governor Phil Murphy signed the Fiscal Year 2024 (FY24) state budget into law on Friday, June 30, 2023.
The $54.3 billion budget outlines the state’s anticipated spending plan from July 1, 2023, through June 30, 2024. Among the many new programs and increased funding in the FY24 budget are key provider increases benefiting the autism community.
Effective July 1, 2023, the Department of Human Services (DHS) has increased provider reimbursement rates for Behavioral Supports “Assessment and Plan Development” from $19.60 to $22.05 per 15-minute increment and “Monitoring” from $7.34 to $8.26 per 15-minute increment.
The budget also includes a $0.25 per hour wage increase for Direct Support Professionals who provide children’s behavioral health services or assist children or adults with intellectual or developmental disabilities under a provider contract or fee-for-service agreement with the Department of Children and Families, DHS’s Division of Developmental Disabilities, or the Department of Labor’s Division of Vocational Rehabilitation Services.
The reimbursement rate for “Supports Brokerage” had increased to $10 per 15-minute increment. Finally, overall fee-for-service rates received a cost-of-living adjustment of 3.25%.
The budget also appropriates $1 million to the Direct Support Professional Career Development Program and $5 million to the Behavioral Healthcare Provider Loan Redemption Program. The Higher Education Student Assistance Authority will begin accepting loan redemption applications in October 2023.
Join our e-mail list to receive updates such as when the loan redemption application opens and if additional funding becomes available.